The Regents of the University acknowledge with profound sadness the death on April 28, 1990, of Raymond Fred Falasco, D.D.S., associate professor of dentistry in the School of Dentistry and associate professor of community health programs in the School of Public Health.

Born in Denver, Colorado, on October 28, 1933, Dr. Falasco studied pre-dentistry at Regis College in Denver from 1952-54, earned his D.D.S. degree from the Creighton University School of Dentistry in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1958, and his M.P.H. degree from the University of Michigan's School of Public Health in 1971. From 1958-59, he was a clinical dentist in a family dental clinic at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver. He then operated a private practice in Westminster, Colorado, from 1959-69. He had served in the U.S. Army Reserve Dental Corps since 1974, achieving the rank of colonel in 1982, and was a commander in the 652nd Medical Detachment (dental services) from 1978-81.

In 1971, Dr. Falasco began his teaching career at the University of Iowa's College of Dentistry in Iowa City, where he was an assistant professor in the Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry. From 1972-74, he was an assistant professor at Emory University's School of Dentistry in Atlanta, Georgia, where he taught in the Department of Operative Dentistry and was program director and dental auxiliary utilization director of the TEAM program. He returned to the University of Michigan in 1974 to join the faculty as a lecturer in dental public health and assistant professor in the Department of Community Dentistry. He was promoted to associate professor in 1979.

Dr. Falasco's work focused primarily on dental practice administration and community dental health outreach programs. He designed a curriculum to teach dental practice management, and co-produced three videotape-teaching aids. In 1971, he was honored with an award for his service to disadvantaged children from the Tri-County Health Department in Commerce City, Colorado, and he co-authored and presented a paper about a dental health program for migrant workers.

Dr. Falasco was an active member of a number of professional organizations, including the American Association of Dental Schools, Metro-Denver Dental Society, Westminster Dental Study Club, Rocky Mountain Dental Study Club, University District Dental Society, and the American, Colorado, Iowa, and Michigan Dental Associations.

Dr. Falasco's colleague and friend, Dr. Emerson Robinson, described Dr. Falasco as "a kind and gentle man who loved people" and who "would be greatly missed". In his memory, the department has established the Raymond F. Falasco Scholarship Fund, which will contribute $1,000 to students who have demonstrated excellence and compassion in the area of public health.

As we mourn the loss of this great scholar and teacher, our condolences go to his wife, Violet Ziegmann Falasco; his son, Ronald; and his daughters, Laura and Gina.